Over the last few days protests have been growing in Egypt in response to the continuing control of the government by Mubarak era military forces.

Only eight days away from parliamentary elections which activists believe are being subverted by the military to protect their continued control, activists are back in Tahrir, Alexandria and Suez demanding democratic control of the Egyptian government.

The SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces) which has been governing since Mubarak’s ouster has not only backed away from the promises of power transfer but has proven even more repressive with over 12,000 arrested and frequently tortured by military rather than civilian courts. Two recent events have drawn added attention to conditions. On November 1st, activist blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah was detained after accusing the military of responsibility for the deaths of activists on October 9th and for refusing to cooperate with military courts. A letter from Alaa smuggled out by his pregnant wife closed with a comment by one of his cellmates:

Abu Malek interrupts my thoughts: “I swear by God if this revolution doesn’t do something radical about injustice it will sink without a trace.”

In early November, the SCAF-appointed interim government met with political leaders to press for the adoption of supraconstitutional principles to perpetuate the military’s autonomy over its own affairs. For example, one provision would force legislators to obtain the military’s approval before issuing any laws affecting it. Another would make military financial allocations appear as a singly entry on the national budget, thereby preventing detailed parliamentary oversight. The principles would also give the SCAF wide discretion over Egypt’s next constitution, including the authority to select 80 percent of the initial drafting committee and, if that body fails to complete its task within six months, to independently select an entirely new constitutional assembly.

Following a mass demonstration on Friday against SCAF’s hold on power, a relatively small group began a new encampment in Tahrir Square yesterday only to be brutally evicted by police and security forces – with their tents set on fire. As of 4PM CST, reliable reports put the death toll at 11 and the twitpic below shows “eight unmoving bodies” while the video up top shows security forces dragging one onto a trash pile. Questions are being raised about the tear gas and other “nonlethal” weapons being used – as well as pointed reminders that these chemicals are produced by US companies and bought with US aid dollars as doctors report a number of the deaths were caused by asphyxiation.

…they have decided to stage the sit-in because they believe remnants of the old regime are still running the country, and given the lack of a clear timetable for a transition of power to an elected civilian government. The forces said that the political movements and forces of the revolution are the only source of authority in the country and have decided to revive the January 25 Revolution.

They added that they will continue their sit-in until Essam Sharaf’s government is immediately dissolved, a national salvation government, which will oversee the transitional period along with parliamentary and presidential elections, is formed, and the ruling military junta is stripped of its political cout. The groups are also demanding that parliamentary elections are held on their scheduled date, that presidential elections are held on 1 April 2012, and that the Interior Ministry be reformed.

Among the 18 forces that released the statement are the Revolution Youth Coalition, the 6 April Movement (Democratic Front), the Revolution’s Protectors Council, the Revolution Youth Alliance, the Free Movement for Peaceful Change, and the Egyptian Current.

An Ahram Online reporter has been beaten and robbed by Egyptian central security forces while covering clashes in downtown Cairo. Ahmed Feteha was witnessing a stand-off on the intersection of Talaat Harb and Boustan around 6pm, when he was attacked by several members of central security.

His assailants beat him with batons, took his mobile phone and ID and detained him on Talaat Harb street, at that point the focus of pitched battles between protesters and state security.

Upon complaining of the violent treatment to a senior officer, Feteha was beaten a second time. Security forces also took his money and wallet. Feteha was released shortly afterwards.

The square, which has been the scene of street battles between riot police and activists demanding an end to Egypt’s military leadership, was relatively calm on Sunday night after protesters regained control of the area and began calling for reinforcements.”

As the protesters were chanting earlier: “The Revolution is still here in Tahrir.”

The military is led by the same un-democratic forces as the old regime.
Power and money, and that’s all it is.
Wish we could help them. But we won’t. Our government would love to prop up another puppet. And what better than a dictator from the military.

As Mubarak fell, many here at #FDL talked about the skeevy role of the military. The establishment didn’t change; so what really changed once the tinpot dictator (and US ally) was gone? A lot of people here talked about that change in Eqypt, last spring, and while cautiously optimistic, a bunch of us weren’t buying it.

correction the military is led by the same undemocratic force that run the US. How will O handle this now. Demand that egypt allows people to protest while using force back home? The lie is being exposed for all to see, but be careful for while our goals are global are solutions are local.

direct democracy means that those in power are regulated tightly by those that they work for. Stay focused, see it is a global struggle, but demand local answers

the egyptian army works for the US. all that was changed was the puppet on the top. what is happening now is that the people are denying O’s ability after egypt’s fake elections is for O to declare “democracy at work”

The stakes are high right now if the protestors keep on they will be their actions unravel and expose the lie

I respect you but wonder what you were watching and waiting for. who funds the egyptian army? who would have the most to gain from saying democracy had come to egypt? this was BS from the start and it seems it might backfire. I hope the people are smart enough to figure it out

The rest of watching & waiting is social. I’ve been skeptical since the beginning, but there was a lot of optimism in the milieu where I hang out. Since I am often a spoiler and had no gut reaction nor evidence, I avoided premature conclusions from my POV.

IMO what we have happening is a world wide uprising. what we also have is those that have been in control for a very long time waiting to step forward with a world wide solution. How this plays out I do not know. But I do know if whatever is proposed as a solution removes people even more from those making the decision, do not watch and wait, but yell with every breath you have.

I fervently pray that we won’t have to see 11 deaths and 1K wounded, but, you’re right, we’ve still ain’t seen nothing yet…! I could forsee much worse with a sudden spike of $10-15 per gallon of gas, once bombs start falling on Kish and Tehran…! 8-(

wow you are stubborn. How much more info do you need to see that our entire system is corrupt. that those in power will do anything to remain in control. A thousand more years on top of the last several thousand before you have enough info to opine?

History is not written before it happens, and no one knew in advance what would be the outcome. You’re demonstrating a greater degree of cynicism, not greater knowledge or wisdom. That in itself can be a self fulfilling prophecy. Thank the gods that egyptians have broken through fear and have more hope in taking control of their own future. We haven’t done that yet.

I didn’t find it that rough.
Are we sure this new “flag as inappropriate” is in FDL’s best interest.? Seems to raise the bar on ideas that should be forbidden. Or on the idea that ideas can be shunned.

I didn’t care what author’s conclusion was. In fact I tended to agree.

But there are 2 sides to everything. In most cases the other side is not worth mentioning. But yesterday’s author was so biased I thought a challenge was in order and the challenge was not well responded to IMO.

When I had a coral and fish tank, I would have cut off my own fingers to live there. :) I spent at a minimum $300 per month for 4 years on that addiction. (I’ve got the rig in storage because I’m still weak)
Do you have one? You’ve got some rare corals there, and rare left handed hermit crabs – tiny gorgeous ones.

Oh,god, I just watched the videos I’d been avoiding, choosing reading words instead, cuz it’s safer.
If a person can watch the police brutality taken to it’s orgasm, as those show…and not relate it to the restrained masturbation U.S.A police are dabbling in…………
There’s no other way to describe it.

The young women in Cal Berkely being jammed in the abdomen with power blows from riot police while penned by a crowd and bushes is so over the top police brutality. My fellow Americans seem to be spineless worms not to be screaming outrage. Agaist the para military and the MSM that ignore these stories.

I haven’t paid much attention with the law team at my local Occupation, but I would think there will be a lot of lawsuits against cities / police departments over police brutality or infringements on people civil rights.

These law actions could make cities realize how expensive it is to have brutal police. Anyone have anything to add on this? Do some protestors have a case?